Challenging the Pervasiveness of Organizational Stupidity in Higher Education

In Short Researchers have developed the concept of organizational stupidity to explain why some organizations lack the ability or willingness to create and use knowledge resources. Indicators of organizational stupidity include a lack of reflexivity, failure to provide justifications for decisions and actions, and avoidance of substantive reasoning. The management practices of higher education institutions could be inadvertently reinforcing cultures of organizational stupidity. This article highlights the effects of organizational stupidity on colleges and universities and proposes steps that leaders can take to establish instead a culture of critical reflection, voice, and meaningful participation.